Tramper for cotton presses



Dec. 18, 1962 w. E. BROWN 4 3,068,783

' TRAMPER FOR COTTON PRESSES Filed March 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 590w/v 'TNVENTQB ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,068,783 PatentedDec. .18, 1962 3,fi68,783 TRAMPER FOR CQ'ITQN PRESEES William ErnestBrown, Fatricia, Tex. Filed Mar. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 93,178 2 Claims. (Cl.199-76) This invention relates broadly to a t-ramper for cotton presses,including an arrangement for conveying the cotton from the condenser ofa cotton gin to the press boxes and a means for depositing the cotton inthe press boxes in compact form.

In the automatic tra-mpers of the prior art, the cotton is only packedon the down stroke of the ram, while the gate to the press boxes isclosed and the kickers are stopped. When the ram starts on its upwardstroke, it engages the gate and the kickers start at hi h speed. Thisoperation is the same for every double stroke of the ram. All movingcomponents of the press must operate in the proper time sequence. Whenthe bale has been formed, the control lever must be operated just at theright time, as the ram leaves the press box. By actual count the numberof strokes to form a bale may run close to eighty.

The object of the present invention is to provide in a cotton gincontinuously running rolls in the conveyor from the condenser to thepress for depositing the cotton in the press in compact form.

Another object of the present invention is to provide continuouslyrunnin rolls in the conveyor from the condenser to the press forcompacting the cotton and depositing same in the press, which rollsoperate without synchronization with the moving parts of the press.

- A further object of the present invention is to provide continuouslyrunning rolls in the conveyor from the condenser to the press, whichrolls are coordinated with the delivery rolls from the condenser so thatthere is a continuous flow of the cotton from the condenser to thepress.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will become apparentfrom the following specification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing the dual press boxesandpart of the condenser of a cotton gin with the conveyor including thepacking rolls according to the present invention between same.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken on the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view, taken on the section line3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of the packing rolls and theirmountings, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the section line 5-5 ofFIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the rotatablemounting of one of the packing rolls.

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on the section line 6-6 of FIG.2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the interior ofone of the hydraulic cylinders for lifting the packing rolls to permitrotation of the press boxes through 180.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view, taken on the section line7-7 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing thepivotal mounting of the chute, and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the section line 8-8 ofFIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the detailsof the packing rolls.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and to FIG. 2 in particular,the condenser or cotton gin is here shown as a vertically positionedstructure of right angle parallelrolls 4S pipe shape having four (4)side walls 10 comprised by abutting boards and a bottom 12. Thestructure is mounted on a frame work comprised by vertically positionedmembers 14 and connecting cross members 15. One side wall'ltl of thecondenser has an exit opening 11 adjacent the bottom. In this opening 11there are mounted the doifing rolls 16-16. These rolls have shafts 17-17which are rotatably mounted in pillow block bearings 18-13, the latterbeing secured to the wall 10 on the opposite sides of the opening 11.The rolls 16-16 are driven in any suitable manner (not shown), to run inopposite directions, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. A chute 19 issecured in any suitable manner to the side wall 10 of the condenserintermediate the dofiing rolls 16-16. This chute is also partiallysupported by braces 20, which are secured by bolts 21 to the chute andto the vertically positioned frame members 14. Adjacent its lower endthe chute 19 has a pivoted section 23, which is secured to the chute bypivots 22-22. This lower end of the chute is supported by struts 25,which are pivoted to the lower end at 24, and to the supporting bars55-55, for the packing rolls 48-48, to be later described, at 26.

A duplex or double press includes two baling or press boxes 27 and 28.All standard baling boxes are-of the same size. These boxes areprincipally comprised by verti cally positioned boards. At least oneperimetrical reinforcing rod 29 is positioned around each box; Thebottom 39 of each box is movable upwardly within the box to compress thecotton in same. When the box is being filled with cotton, the bottom 39rests on an internal shoulder 31. At its center each bottom 30 hassecured thereto a platen 32. The arrangement is such that, either box,for instance the box 27, may be under the packing 43, in a manner to belater described, for compressing the cotton therein into a bale. In thelatter position the box 23 overlies a hydraulic cylinder 35. Thiscylinder has a plunger 34, which is reciprocable therein, and the latterhas a head 33 at its top, which head is adapted to abut the platen 32 onthe bottom 30 and cornpress the cotton in the box to form the bale. Thecylinder 35 has a conduit 36 connected thereto at its top for theadmission of fluid under pressure to force the plunger 34 downwardly; itwill be understood that there is a similar conduit (not shown) connectedto the cylinder at its bottom for the admission of fluid under pressureto same for forcing the plunger 34 upwardly. On the downward stroke ofthe plunger 34 this latter conduit functions as the exit conduit for thefluid below the plunger; conversely, on the upward stroke of the plunger34 the conduit 36 functions as the exit conduit for the fluid above theplunger 34. Both conduits extend to a control valve (not shown) and to asource of fluid under pressure (also not shown).

The two baling boxes 27 and 28 of the duplex or double press box arerotatably supported on a king shaft 44'by double arms 39-39,- which aresecured to the boxes by bolts 38. At their centers the double arms 39-39are formed as semi-circular bearing sections (not'shown) andcomplementary bearing caps 40 are secured over these bearing sections bybolts 41. The king shaft 44 is received between the bearing sections onthe double arms 39-39 and the bearing caps 40-40. For supporting thedouble arms 39-39 on the king shaft 44 collars 42 are provided, whichare received on the king shaft and held in place by radially positionedset screws 43.

At its top the king shaft 44 is received in a capital bearing 45 and atits bottomin a similar bearing (not shown).

' shaft 43 is mounted on the uprights 47-47 and the latter j the bottomsof the cylinders.

are secured to the base (not shown) of the cotton gin.

The packing rolls 48-48 are shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8. These rollsare mounted on and for rotation with axially positioned shafts 49. Theshaft 49 for the left packing rolls 48 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 8) carriespulleys 50-50 at its opposite ends. One of these pulleys will be drivenby a suitable motor '(not shown) and the other will be connected by abelt (not shown) to a similar pulley (also not shown) on the shaft 49for the left packing roll 48. The packing rolls 48-48 are driven forrotation in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows, in FIGS. 2, 3and 8. It is preferable that they be driven at such a rate of rotationas to have the same peripheral velocities as the doffing rolls 16-16.One expedient that could well be employed would be to make the packingrolls 4.8-48 of the same diameter as the dofling rolls 16-16 and todrive both sets of rolls at the same rate of rotation. As shown,however, the packing rolls 48-48 are of considerably larger diameterthan the dofling rolls 16-16 and they will accordingly be driven at alesser rate of rotation than the dofling rolls, so as to have the sameperipheral velocities.

The shaft 49 for the right packing roll 48 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 8) isjournalled in pillow block bearings 52-52. The latter are secured to thesupporting bars 55-55 by bolts 51. These supporting bars are adapted torest alternately on the tops of the baling boxes 27 and 28 of the press;similarly the shaft 49 for the left packing roll 48 is journalled inpillow block bearing 53-53, which are also secured to the supportingbars 55-55 by bolts 51.

7 As so arranged, when the supporting bars 55-55 are resting on the topof the baling box 27 or 28, the lower halves of the packing rolls arewithin the baling box and the upper halves are outside of same. Thepillow block bearings 53-53 for the left packing roll 48 differ from thepillow block bearings 52-52 for the right packing roll in having widerbottom flanges and elongated slots 54 in these flanges, these slotsbeing positioned transversely with respect to the bore through thebearing for the shaft 49. The bolts 51 for the bearings are received inthese slots 54 to slidably mount the pillow block bearings 53-53 on thesupporting bars 55-55. Adjacent their left ends (FIGS. 3 and 4), thesupporting bars 55-55 have elongated slots 57 therein. Coiledcompression springs 58 are mounted in the slots 57 lengthwise of thelatter. At their inner ends thesprings 58 are received in cups 56, whichare secured to the bottom flanges of the pillow block bearings 53-53, asby welding; likewise, at their outer ends the springs 58 are received insimilar cups 56, which are secured in the outer ends ofv the slots 57,also by welding.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 60-60 is provided for raising thesupporting bars 55-55 and the packing rolls 48-48carried' thereby, sothat the baling boxes 27 and 28 may be interchanged in position. Thesehydraulic cylinders are mounted by having their upper cylinder headssecured to the overhead horizontal beam 46 in any suitable manner, asshown in FIG. 6, the particular form of mounting means for the cylinderheads on the beams not being illustrated. Pistons 62 are slidablymounted within the cylinders 60-60 and have piston rods 63-63 securedthereto, the latter passing through suitable holes in These piston rods63-63 are secured at their lower ends to the supporting bars 55-55 forthe packing rolls 48-48. Bars 65-65 have their upper ends 65a-65a turnedat an obtuse angle to their main body sections and are secured to thelower ends of the pistonrods 63-63 by bolts 64; likewise, the lower ends65b-65bare turned at an obtuse angle to their main body'sections and bybolts 66.

The pistons 62 are raised in the cylinders 60-60 by secured to thesupporting bars 55-55 fluid under pressure; they may also be lowered byfluid under pressure, or thefluid below the pistons may be releasedandthe pistons allowed to fall due to the weight of the supporting bars55-55 and the packing rolls 48-48.

A;- The fluid under pressure for raising the pistons 62 in the cylinders60 is admitted to the right cylinder (FIG. 1) through a branch conduit68; the main conduit 67 extends transversely to the bottom of the leftcylinder 60. Similarly, the fluid under pressure for lowering thepistons 62 in the cylinders 60 is admitted to the right cylinder 60through a branch conduit 70; the main conduit 69 extends transversely tothe top of the left cylinder. It will be obvious that, when the pistons62 are being raised in the cylinders 60 by fiuid under pressure admittedthrough the conduits 67 and 68, the conduits 69 and 70 will function asexit conduits; conversely, when the pistons 62 are being lowered in thecylinders 60 by fluid under pressure admitted through the conduits 69and 70, or by the action of gravity, as previously described, theconduits 67 and 68 will function as exit conduits. The conduits 67 and68 extend downwardly to a control valve 71, which has an operatinghandle 72. This control valve maybein any convenient location. As shown,it is mounted on the king shaft 44 by a hasp 73 and bolts 74. It will beunderstood that this control valve 71 is connected by a conduit (notshown) to a source of fluid under pressure, preferably the same sourceto which the fluid pressure cylinder is connected.

Arcuate guards 75-75 are positioned below the pack- 4 ing rolls 48-48.The guard 75 for the right packing cylinder 48 (FIG. 2) extends forapproximately 90 in the clockwise direction around the cylinder from thevertical center line upwardly to the horizontal center line with closeclearance with respect to the cylinder; similarly, the guard 75 for theleft packing cylinder extends for approximately 90" in thecounter-clockwise direction around the cylinder from the vertical centerline upwardly to the horizontal center line with progressivelyincreasing clearance with respect to the cylinder. The increasedclearance allows for rearwardly sliding movement of the pillow blockbearings 53-53 on the supporting bars '55-55, when the left packing roll48 yields with respect to the right packing roll. At their lower endsthe guards '75-'75 are supported by being secured in any suitable mannerto rods 77, which are in turn securedto the supporting bars 55-55 bybolts 78. At their upper ends the guards 75-75 have outturned. flanges75a, which are adapted to rest on the tops of the press boxes 27 or 28.

Pairs of dogs are provided for holding the bale in the baling box whileit is being formed and while the baling boxes 27 and 28 are beinginterchanged in position, and the packing rolls 48-48 are withdrawn fromsame. The dogs for holding the bale in the baling box while it is beingformed are comprised by arms 80, which are pivotally mounted on thelower ends of the guards 75-75 by bolts 79. These arms normally rest onridges 76, which are integrally formed on the guards 75-7'5.

The standard baling boxes 27 or 28, are provided with some form of dogfor holding the bale in-place, while it is being formed. As shown, thesedogs are comprised by short rods 81-81, which are slidably mountedin'h'oles 30-30 in the side walls of the press boxes and in horizontalalignment with the arms 80-80 formingthe. first set of dogs,respectively. Where the dogs 81-81 'on the press box do not sohorizontally align respectively with the dogs 80-80 on the guards 75-75according to the present invention, it is contemplated that the dogs81-81 will be moved upward or downward along the sidewalls of the pressboxes 27 and 28, as may be necessary, in order that they may be alignedrespectively with the dogs 80- 80, when the supporting bars 55-55 andthe packing rolls 48-48 are in position on the top of the baling box 27or 28. The rods 81-81 are pivotally connected at 82 to one arm of Lshaped brackets 83-83. The otherarms of these brackets are integral withbase plates 84-84,

drawn from the baling box 27 or 28, and the baling boxes areinterchanged.

In operation, the supporting bars 55-55 are positioned on the top of thebaling box 27 or 28, with the packing rolls positioned within the balingbox below their horizontal diameters. The lint cotton is removed fromthe condenser by the doffing rolls 16-16 and passes down the chute 19.The latter discharges the cotton between the packing rolls 43-48, whichcompact same and force it into the baling box 27, or 28. When a largewad of cotton passes between the packing rolls 48-48, the left roll(FIG. 3) moves away from the right roll, the pillow block bearings 53-53sliding on the supporting bars 55-55. As stated, with the supportingbars 55-55 and the pressing rolls 48-48 in the described position, thedogs 80-80 on the guards 75-75 are in respective horizontal alignmentwith the dogs 81-81, which extend through the side walls of the balingbox 27 or 28. Thus the dog 80 on the guard 75 and the dog 81 extendingthrough the side wall of the baling box 27 or 28, forms a substantiallycontinuous obstruction to the passage of the cotton upwardly and to therear of the respective pressing roll 48.

The bale of cotton is formed by the fluid pressure cylinder 35 forcingthe platen 32 and the slidable bottom 30 upwardly within the press box.While the bale is being formed both the dogs 80-80 on the guards 75-75and the dogs 31-81 extending through the holes 30-30 in the side wallsof the baling box are in horizontal alignment, as shown in FIG. 2, andserve both to keep the cotton from travelling upwardly to the rear ofthe packing rolls 48-48, as described and to hold the bale in place.When the bale has been completed, the control valve 71 is operated .toenergize the two hydraulic cylinders 60-60 and lift the packing rolls48-48 upwardly, until they clear the top of the baling box. The pivotedend 23 of the chute 19 is swung upwardly by the strut and temporarilystops the flow of the cotton down the chute. When the supporting bars55-55 and the packing rolls 43-48 are raised, the dogs 80-80 are alsoraised with the guards 75-75 but the dogs 81-81 remain in position inthe bailing box With the packing rolls 48-48 raised clear of the balingboxes 27 and 28, the latter may be interchanged in position. While thepacking rolls 48-48 are withdrawn from the baling box, the dogs 81-81function to hold the bale in place, as in the cotton presses at presentknown. After the baling boxes 27 and 23 have been interchanged inposition, the control valve 71 is then operated again to lower thepacking rolls 48-48 into the baling box beneath same.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefuland desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tramper for cotton positioned between a cotton gin including acondenser and a press including interchangeable balingboxes, comprisinga chute leading from the condenser to the baling boxes, a pivoted lowerend on said chute, a pair of parallel and closely spaced packing rollsadapted to run in opposite directions positioned below the pivoted lowerend of said chute, a support removably mounting said packing rolls andadapted to be positioned on the tops of the baling boxes, strutsinterconnecting said support and the pivoted lower end of said chute,and means for lifting the support and packing rolls clear of the balingboxes to allow the latter to be interchanged and raising the pivotedlower end of the chute to stop the flow of cotton through same.

2. A tramper for cotton gins including a condenser, interchangeablebaling boxes and a chute from the condenser to the baling boxes, adaptedto be positioned over the baling boxes, comprising an extensionpivotally mounted on the end of said chute, a pair of parallel barsadapted to be positioned on top of either of the baling boxes, strutssecured to the parallel bars and pivotally connected to the extension ofsaid chute, bearings mounted on said parallel bars, closely spacedpacking rolls rotatably mounted in said bearings between said parallelbars, arcuate guards positioned in close concentric relationship withrespect to said packing rolls extending from the outer ends of saidparallel bars to the vertical center planes of the axes of the packingrolls, and means for swinging the pivoted extension of the chuteupwardly and raising the parallel bars, packing rolls, and guards clearof the baling boxes to allow the latter to be interchanged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,050,110 Davis Ian. 14, 1913 1,074,061 Murray Sept. 23, 1913 1,456,265Brooks May 22, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,213,072 France Oct. 26, 1959

